2.5 Journal Entry 1, Part 2

Class has been wonderful so far, I thoroughly enjoy class, and it really is the best part of my day. 

I really enjoy just getting to move in different ways while working on things that are important to me and my relationship with my body.

As class has been going on though, I have definitely noticed two to three things that I struggle with the most.

The first and most strangely frustrating is Balance. I have always thought of myself as having good balance.  This class has taught me otherwise.  Initially the Ronde de Jombes were the infuriatingly difficult to do.  I would go home and practice and practice, and still I would fall over in class the next day.  Going backwards is far harder than going forwards.  After awhile though they became a lot easier.  I found its not so much balance, as learning what to stabilize and what to relax. It also helps tremendously when I stop watching other people and just focus on myself.

Ronde de Jombes have become a lot easier, but in their place I have found that extending the leg in various directions around my body is causing me balance issues as well.  I have improved somewhat on these things, especially once I have memorized the pattern of the exercise and I don't have to watch others to remember what to do.

Second, my flexibility.  Since the beginning I have been stretching daily, and I have found quite an increase in my flexibility, mainly with the hamstrings.  (i'm pretty flexible everywhere else thank goodness)
However, watching my teacher and some of the other ladies in the class bring their leg up so high, or going so far into their stretches, really pushes me to try and get better and improve my own flexibility.  Yay, jealousy.

Finally my ability to memorize dance choreography, is somewhat lacking.  I wish I could remember choreography better, it's always been a struggle for me to remember longer pieces.  I always feel sad  trying to look around for clues of the next movement.  I suppose this comes from a better familiarity with the dancing vocabulary, and just practice.  I hope this is something that comes with time. 

In class we have watched others movements and I have to say I really love the diversity in the texture and feeling of everyone dance.  Especially when we work on leaping though, there are a couple girls that really just leap like they are floating, its fantastic to watch.  especially when they reach the height of their jump and their legs seem to keep rising until they are doing the splits in mid air.  I can't wait to be able to make those lines.

(I know no ones name, forgive me for the strange descriptions)  There is another girl who I love to watch dance as well, she reminds me of clockwork that needs to be wound up, and when she finally does er movement bursts forth and then she kinda returns to her winding up phase.  Also, one of the other boys, (yay three of us)  is hilarious to watch (in a good way)  as he always has the biggest smile on his face like he is having the best time ever, no matter what he is doing.   I feel like I make strange faces when I'm dancing, and I know I make them when I am Swing Dancing.  (My friends call it my Blue Steel face)

 

haha it really looks like that

I just want to work on letting go of trying so hard, and just be able to be joyful when dancing and let it show through. (or any range of emotion other than extreme, to the point of being painful, concentration.)

And Finally for the question from last class.

Jumping is my favourite part of class,  leaping and skipping in all it's forms is something I have loved since I could do it.

We have broken down jumping in class into a few categories.
Jumping from one foot to same foot (skipping)
Jumping from one foot to the other foot (leaping)
Jumping from one foot to two feet (the three legged pony)
and finally Jumping from two feet to one foot (backwards three legged pony)

The only jump we have not done in class yet is the last one.

The other ones are so much fun :D

I have no problem getting height or power in my jumps, but I have trouble keeping my legs straight, and toning down the power of my jump.  Especially if we are leaping.  The word itself elicits a response in me to add power.

There we are.

Finally caught up, far too late.

But at least I just have to update once or twice a week from here on out.  Smooth Sailing. (Do I need more?  I can write more. )

-Corbett